Darius Henderson is staying on loan to Albion, at least for the time being.

Reading manager Alan Pardew has agreed to stretch the striker's stay with the Seagulls to a second month, but he can be recalled instantly.

Boss Steve Coppell is relieved to have Henderson available for Saturday's home game against Swindon.

"It's as good as it gets as far as I am concerned," Coppell said. "We are not in a position to dictate the situation.

"Darius has given us a physical presence we didn't have before and with him in the side I didn't feel as exposed as we were defending setpieces."

Henderson's immediate future is complicated by fellow forward Martin Butler's £150,000 move from Reading to Rotherham.

That increases the possibility of the Doncaster-born front man being recalled by Pardew, though ironically Henderson's availability for the Swindon match has been assured by the impressive form of Reading's former Seagull Steve Sidwell.

Midfielder Sidwell's call-up for the England under-21s again enabled the Royals to postpone this Saturday's home game against Walsall, as they also have Adie Williams and Omar Daley on international duty for Wales and Jamaica respectively.

Henderson, 22 on Sunday, scored a penalty, forced an own goal and set up two goals for partner Leon Knight in his first month on loan with Albion, which ended with last Saturday's 3-3 draw at Plymouth.

Meanwhile, Coppell is likely to let Carl Wilson-Denis and Daniel Marney remain on loan with Crawley for a second month.

"We've got a reserve game this week then one the following Wednesday," Coppell said.

"For the next month after that we've got one reserve game. I know Crawley would like to extend, so that might be an option.

"In the second month we can call them back instantly and they are getting regular football."

The pair are still training regularly with Albion and Coppell has noticed an improvement in Marney.

"By his own admission he did not have a very good pre-season, but all of a sudden with the games and the goals he is a totally different player," Coppell said.

"He's got a lot more confidence about him. He's aggressive running at people, which is his game, so in the short term it has done him good."

thisisthealbion.co.uk